Animal control officer says squirrels were right about this harsh winter
ALBION – Harry Papponetti, Albion’s animal control officer for more than 30 years, knew we were in for a rough winter.
In the fall he saw squirrels furiously stacking pine cones around his property. He had never seen anything quite like it. In October, he told the Village Board to expect a punishing winter based on what he was seeing from the squirrels.
“I told you,” Papponetti told the Orleans Hub before Wednesday’s Village Board meeting. “The squirrels were right.”
The area has been in the grip of bitter cold temperatures and frequent bouts of snow this winter.
The stacking of pine cones by squirrels as a sign of a brutal winter is believed to be folklore. But Papponetti is a believer that squirrels and wildlife knew extended harsh conditions were in store this winter.
He told the board deep cold and frozen landscape is bringing foxes and other wildlife farther into the village than in a normal winter looking for food. They didn’t stock up on pine cones.
